Suction head in sheet feed systems for sheet processing machines

ABSTRACT

Suction head in a sheet feed system for sheet processing machines includes a drive shaft mounting a cam disc, a lever system periodically driven by the cam disc against the bias of a spring, separating suckers for raising sheets from a pile thereof automatically adjustable to a given level, and conveyer suckers for transporting the sheets to further conveying means of the sheet feed system. The lever system includes a steering lever having a free end whereon the separating suckers are carried and which are guidable in a vertical guide by an encapsulated antifriction bearing. The suction head also includes a pair of oscillating levers, an eccentric mounted on the drive shaft and operatively connected to the oscillating levers for oscillating the same, and a holder carrying the conveyer suckers and rotatably mounted on respective free ends of the oscillating levers. The suction head includes a suction head housing through which a free end of the drive shaft projects. A rotary valve for regulating flow of blowing and suction air is secured to the free end of the drive shaft outside the suction head housing, and a valve housing covering the rotary valve is releasably connected to the suction head housing by quick-opening locking means.

United States Patent [151 3,695,606 Win 451 Oct. 3, 1972 SUCTION HEAD INSHEET FEED Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit SYSTEMS FOR SHEET PROCESSINGMACHINES [72] Inventor: Arno Wirz,Schwetzingen, Germany [73 Assignee:Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft, Heidelberg, Germany [22] Filed: June 10, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 45,061

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 11, 1969 Germany ..P 19 29714.4 June 11, 1969 Germany ..P 19 29 715.5

[52] US. Cl. ..271/26 R, 271/12 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 3/08 [58] Field ofSearch ..271/26, 12

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,074 l/1958 Williams..271/26 2,233,935 3/1941 Backhouse ..271/26 2,615,713 10/1952 Backhouse..271/26 3,471,141 10/1969 Ruetschle ..271/26 2,756,049 7/1956 Stolz..271/12 Attorney-Curt M. Avery, Arthur E. Wilfond, Herbert L. Lernerand Daniel J. Tick [5 7] ABSTRACT Suction head in a sheet feed systemfor sheet processing machines includes a drive shaft mounting a camdisc, a lever system periodically driven by the cam disc against thebias of a spring, separating suckers for raising sheets from a pilethereof automatically adjustable to a given level, and conveyer suckersfor transporting the sheets to further conveying means of the sheet feedsystem. The lever system includes a steering lever having a free endwhereon the separating suckers are carried and which are guidable in avertical guide by an encapsulated anti-friction bearing. The suctionhead also includes a pair of oscillating levers, an eccentric mounted onthe drive shaft and operatively connected to the oscillating levers foroscillating the same, and a holder carrying the conveyer suckers androtatably mounted on respective free ends of the oscillating levers.

The suction head includes a suction head housing through which a freeend of the drive shaft projects. A rotary valve for regulating flow ofblowing and suction air is secured to the free end of the drive shaftoutside the suction head housing, and a valve housing covering therotary valve is releasably connected to the suction head housing byquick-opening locking means.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIEmEnumam 3.695.606;

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PATENTED m2- 3.695.606

' SHEU 2 OF 3 SUCTION HEAD IN SHEET FEED SYSTEMS FOR SHEET PROCESSINGMACHINES My invention relates to suction head in sheet feed systems forsheet processing machines.

More specifically, the invention relates to suction head for forming anoverlapped sheet feed and which is provided with separating suckers forraising the sheets from a pile thereof that is automatically adjustableto a given level, and conveyer suckers for transporting the sheets indirection to further conveying means of the sheet feed system.

Also more specifically, the invention relates to such a suction headthat has a suction head housing in which a drive shaft is mountedcarrying various regulating members such as a rotary valve forregulating blowing and suction air.

A suction head is known wherein the separating suckers are reciprocatedthrough a lever system by a cam disc provided on a drive shaft. In thisknown suction head, a guide rod, which carries a holder for theseparating suckers, extends through a rectilinear guide formed as aslide hearing, which must naturally be lubricated regularly. The dangertherefore arises of soiling the sheet being conveyed or that binding mayoccur in the event the servicing personnel should forget to provide therequired lubrication.

The drive for the conveyer suckers of this heretofore known suction headis effected by a cam disc mounted on the drive shaft. The cam disc has aclosed curved groove wherein a roller of an oscillating lever travels, aholder for the conveyer suckers being mounted on a free end of theoscillating lever. This curved groove is subjected to great wear,resulting in frequent interruptions in operation during relatively longoperating periods.

Furthermore, a suction head is known wherein the holder for the conveyersuckers is suspended on a double parallelogram which is reciprocated bya crank drive. The oscillating guide members are of great mass andrequire a correspondingly large, safe bearing load so that furtherincreased outputs or efficiencies are no longer possible. The cost ofmaterial in this known device is out of proportion to the weight of thesheets being transported (note German Petty Pat. No. 1,775,234)

A drive for sucker is also known which is employed both for separatingas well as conveying the sheets, i.e. raising the sheet (separating)from the sheet pile and also conveying means, such as rollers and belts,for example, occurs only with one device. The drive is formed of a linkquadrilateral bell-crank having a drive crank that is actuated by aneccentric secured to the drive shaft. The use of the quadrilateralbell-crank as guide means for the suckers, however, permits theconveyance of only small and medium-sized sheets. In suction heads whichare to process all sizes of sheets at relatively high speed, this knowndrive is unable to be used for corresponding power demands, as isgenerally known in the art (note German Pat. No. 1,161,596).

Suction heads are also known wherein a drive shaft is disposedtransversely to the direction of conveyance of the sheets, the rotaryvalve being removably mounted on the drive shaft and being secured by aso-called Seege ring against axial displacement. With other knownsuction heads, the housing of the rbtary valve is fastened by screws tothe suction head housing or is mounted between other components. Toremove the rotary valve of the first-mentioned known device, which ispossible only after loosening the Seege ring, or to remove the housingof the second-mentioned known device, in which case the screws must beremoved, a tool or extractor is always required which is often notavailable to the printer when needed (note German Pat. No. 1,025,424).The removal of the housing also requires that the printer have a certainmanual skill which he is often not endowed with so that an experiencedmechanic is required. A skilled mechanic is not often immediatelyavailable and, furthermore, the machine down time and the salary of themechanic must also be taken into consideration.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide 'suction head ofthe aforementioned type with a drive for the separating and conveyersuckers which affords the conveyance of paper of all routine sizes andwhich is of relatively simple as well as trouble-free construction whiletaking into account favorable cost from the standpoint of the user. Itis a further object of the invention to provide such a suction headwhose construction meets the requirements for further power increases.Another object of my invention is to provide suction head whereinsoiling of the sheets with lubricating oil is prevented at all times.

Additional objects of my invention are to provide suction head with arotary valve and a housing therefor which afford a rapid and effortlesscleansing of paper dust and powder (which are used. to prevent smearingof the print) from the control channels of the rotary valve so thatneither manual skills, tools nor experienced mechanics are required.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I provide in accordancewith my invention, in a sheet feed system for sheet processing machines,a suction head for forming an overlapped sheet feed comprising a driveshaft, a cam disc mounted on said drive shaft, a lever systemcooperating with said cam disc and being periodically driven therebyagainst the biasing action of a spring, separating suckers for raisingsheets from a pile thereof, that is automatically adjustable to a givenlevel, and conveyer suckers for transporting the sheets to furtherconveying means of the sheet feed system, said lever system including asteering lever having a free end whereon said separating suckers arecarried, said steering lever being guidable in a vertical guide, anencapsulated anti-friction bearing, a pair of oscillating levers, aneccentric mounted on said drive shaft and operatively connected to saidoscillating levers for oscillating the same, and a holder carrying saidconveyer suckers and rotatably mounted on respective free ends of saidoscillating levers.

The encapsulated, permanently or self-lubricated anti-friction bearingspermit a maintenance-free, nonsoiling guidance for the separatingsuckers. Furthermore, the eccentric offers the coupling member whichtravels thereon, a large bearing surface with a correspondingly greatcapacity for absorbing forces whereby the wear of the stressed parts isreduced to an inconsequential amount.

In accordance with other features of my invention, I provide in a sheetfeed system for sheet processing machines, a suction head comprising asuction head housing, a drive shaft mounted in said suction head housingand having a free end projecting therefrom, a rotary valve forregulating flow of blowing and suction air delivered through the suctionhead to a sheet, said rotary valve being secured to said free end ofsaid drive shaft outside said suction head housing, a valve housingcovering said rotary valve, and quick-opening locking means, releasablyconnecting said valve housing to said suction head housing.

In accordance with yet another feature of my invention, thequick-opening locking means comprises a snap lock formed of ahook-shaped spring, fastened within the suction head housing and aholder nose provided on the valve housing and adapted to be gripped frombehind by the hook-shaped spring.

By simply pressing the hook-shaped spring to one side by hand, theholder nose is freed and the valve housing can be removed. Cleansing ofthe regulating channels of the rotary valve can thus be carried outsimply and rapidly by anyone with the device of my invention withoutrequiring the aid of a tool. The loss of costly production time isthereby avoided.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin suction head in sheet feed systems for sheet processing machines, itis nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope andrange of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the suction head of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken approximately along the line11-";

I FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the suction head wherein, in theinterest of clarity, the conveyer suckers have been omitted;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rotary valve of thesuction head in FIG. 2 with the valve housing withdrawn from the valve;and

FIG. 5 is another view of FIG. 4, in part, showing the rotary valvehousing secured to the suction head housmg.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown therein a suction headconstructed in accordance with my invention. Almost all of the drivemeans for my novel suction head are mounted in a suction head housing 1formed of two halves 2 and 3, that are matchingly fitted together withaligning pins 4 and connected to one another by screws 5. Both of thehousing halves 2 and 3 are formed with respective sidewalls 6 in each ofwhich a bearing 7 for a drive shaft 8 is provided. The drive shaft 8 hasa free end that projects out of the suction-head housing half 3 and isprovided with an end flange 9 to which a non-illustrated universal jointshaft of the suction head drive is connectible.

Within the suction head housing, an eccentric I0 is secured by anadjusting spring 1 l to the drive shaft 8. A coupling member 12 ismounted with roller or oilless slide bearings on the eccentric 10. Thecoupling member 12 terminates in an eye 13 which is articulatinglyconnected by means of a pin 14 with a crank lever 15. The crank lever 15is fastened by an adjusting spring 17 to a bearing shaft 16. The bearingshaft 16 proper extends parallel to the drive shaft 8 and is mounted,similarly to the latter, in both suction-head housing halves 2 and 3 bymeans of ball bearings 18. Directly adjacent both bearings 18, arespective oscillating lever 19 is fastened to the bearing shaft 16within the suction-head housing 1. The free end 20 of each of theoscillating levers 19 extends out of an opening 21 at the underside ofthe suction-head housing 1, and forms a receiver for a conveyer suckerholder 22 which is of tubular construction and is rotatably mounted inthe free end 20 of the oscillating lever 19. A respective conveyersucker 23 is suitably mounted on the holder 22 at both sides of thesuction head of my invention.

At each side of the suction head there is, moreover, located a guide rodor control lever 24 which is rigidly connected to the holder 22 andwhich has a free end armed with a roller 25 which runs along ahorizontal guideway 26. (note FIG. 3 especially) The guide rod 24functions cooperatively with the horizontal guideway 26 to maintain thereciprocating conveyer sucker 23 always in a horizontal plane. It shouldalso be noted that the roller 25 is formed of an encapsulatedanti-friction bearing.

By rotation of the drive shaft 8, in direction of the arrow 27 (FIG. I),the bearing shaft 16 is twisted or turned through the coupling member 12and the crank lever 15 and is swung back and forth correspondingly withthe oscillating lever 19. Accordingly, the conveyer suckers 23 aredisplaced from the forward, extended position thereof shown in solidlines in FIG. 1 to the rearward position 28 thereof shown in dottedlines and back again.

A roller lever 29 is rotatably mounted on the bearing shaft 16 inaddition to and adjacent the oscillating levers 19 and the crank lever15. It extends above the drive shaft 8 as viewed in FIG. 1 and isreciprocatingly oscillated through a roller 31 by a cam disc 30 fixed tothe drive shaft 8. A helical spring 32 continuously biases the roller 31which is rotatably mounted at the roller lever 29, toward the contactsurface of the cam disc 30. At the free end of the roller lever 29, alink or steering lever 33 is pivotally mounted and has a lower end 34,as viewed in FIG. 1, which projects out of the suction head housing 1and forms a receiver for a holder 35 of separating suckers 36. At eachside of the suction head of my invention, a separating sucker 36 isadvantageously clamped firmly to the holder 35 as shown in FIG. 2.

Vertical rectilineal guidance of the link or steering lever 33 and ofthe separating suckers 36 therewith, is effected by a guide 39 whereinthe link or steering lever 33 is supported by two support rollers 37,respectively formed of encapsulated, maintenance-free ball bearings. Dueto the use of two encapsulated ball bearings as support rollers,lubrication of the slide or rollway of the guide 39 is unnecessary, andthe pile 38 of sheets located below the suction head of my invention, isaccordingly prevented from being soiled, especially since all otherbearing locations are encapsulated and consequently maintenance-free.The separating suckers 36 are firmly clamped onto the tubular holder 35,so that they can be swung in the direction of advancement of the sheetsof the pile 38 and in opposite direction thereto. In a conventionalmanner, a tube 40 is located at the rear end of the suction head of myinvention, i.e. the right hand side of FIG. 2. The tube 40 projects fromboth sides of the suction head and carries loosening blowers 41, pilestops 42 and holders 43 for wiper brushes 44. Furthermore, at the rearend of the suction head of my invention, as viewed in FIG. 1, there isprovided a conventional sensing or feeling device 45 which senses ordetermines the level of the upper edge of the pile 38.

On the drive shaft 8, outside the suction head housing 1 and locatedtoward the end of the shaft 8 opposite from the drive flange 9, a rotaryvalve 46 positively turnable through an entrainer pin 47 is mounted.This rotary valve 46 is surrounded by a valve housing 48 which issupported by two ball bearings 49 on the rotary valve 46. Thecoordination of the rotary valve 46 with the eccentric through theentrainer pin 47 and the adjusting spring 11 takes place in such a waythat sheet transfer from the separating suckers 36 to the conveyersuckers 23 occurs exactly in the rearward position 28 of the conveyersuckers.

The valve housing 48 is firmly, yet easily releasably, connected by asnap or spring lock 50 with the suction head housing 1. Various detailsof the snap lock 50 are shown in FlGS. 3 to 5. The snap lock 50 isformed of a leaf spring 51 which is secured to the suction head housing1 at one end thereof and is formed with a hook 52 at the free endthereof, as shown particularly in FIG. 4. The hook 52 grips a holdernose 53 at the rear thereof. The nose 53 is secured to the valve housing48 and is formed with a recess 54, into which a guide pin 55 provided atthe suction head housing 1 projects when the rotary valve housing 48 isattached. The holder nose 53 of the rotary valve housing 48 is slantedor beveled at the end face thereof in a direction toward the valvehousing 48 so that when the rotary valve housing 48 is attached, thespring 51 is necessarily bent outwardly by the wedge-shaped end faceuntil the hook-shaped end 52 of the spring 51 grips the rear surface ofthe holder nose 53.

The spring 51 is able to be bent outwardly by hand with little effort sothat the rotary valve housing 48 can be withdrawn from the rotary valve46 without the aid of any tools. It is thereby possible to cleanse thecontrol channels 56 of the rotary valve 46 of paper or powder dust,always rapidly and without using tools. After the cleaning operation,the rotary valve housing 48 can be attached effortlessly, the lockingpin 55, rotary valve 46 and housing 48 being necessarily adjustedrelative to one another.

Connecting tubes 57 to the rotary valve 46 are connected by hoses 58 tothe connecting tubes 59 of the separating and conveyer suckers 23 and36, respectively. Through a tube 60 and a hose 61, the rotary valve 46is connected to a non-illustrated blower. The hose connections have theadvantage that they can be rapidly loosened and removed for the purposeof cleaning or exchange of many parts of the suction head of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In a sheet feed system for sheet processing machines, a suction headfor forming an overlapped sheet feed comprising a drive shaft, firstdrive means comprising a cam disc mounted on said drive shaft, a leversystem cooperating with said cam disc and being periodically driventhereby against the biasing action of a spring, separating suckers forraising sheets from a pile thereof that is automatically adjustable to agiven level, a first holder carrying said separating suckers, said leversystem including a link having a free end to which said first holder forsaid separating suckers is secured, said link being guidable by anencapsulated anti-friction bearing in a vertical guide for raising andlowering said separating suckers simultaneously, conveyer suckers fortransporting the sheets in a direction to further conveying means of thesheet feed system, second drive means comprising an eccentric mounted onsaid drive shaft; a pair of oscillating levers, said eccentric beingpositively linked to said oscillating levers for oscillating the same,and a second holder carrying said conveyer suckers and rotatably mountedon respective free ends of oscillating levers, said first and saidsecond drive means being operable simultaneously by said drive shaftrespectively for displacing said separating suckers so as to raisesheets from the pile and for displacing said conveyer suckers so as totransport the sheets to said further conveying means.

2. Suction head according to claim 1, wherein a respective guide rod forsaid conveyer suckers is secured to said holder for said conveyersuckers on each side of said suction head housing, each of said guiderods having a free end on which a roller is carried, said rollers beingguidable in a horizontally extending guideway located at said suctionhead housing.

3. Suction head according to claim 1, including a rotary valve mountedon said drive shaft, said rotary valve being coordinated with saideccentric by an entrainer pin so that sheet transfer occurs exactly whensaid conveying suckers are in furthermost position opposite to saidsheet transporting direction. a

4. In a sheet feed system for sheet processing machines, a suction headcomprising a suction head housing, a drive shaft mounted in said suctionhead housing and having a free end projecting therefrom, a rotary valvefor regulating flow of blowing and suction air delivered through thesuction head to a sheet, said rotary valve being secured to said freeend of said drive shaft outside said suction head housing, a valvehousing covering said rotary valve, and quick-opening locking meansreleasably connecting said valve housing to said suction head housing,said quick-opening locking means being openable for disconnecting saidvalve housing from said suction head housing and removing the same fromsaid rotary valve.

5. In a sheet feed system for sheet processing machines, a suction headcomprising a suction head housing, a drive shaft mounted :in saidsuction head housing and having a free end projecting therefrom, arotary valve for regulating flow of blowing and suction air deliveredthrough the suction head to a sheet, said rotary valve being secured tosaid free end of said drive shaft outside said suction head housing, avalve housing covering said rotary valve, and quick-opening lockingmeans releasably connecting said valve housing to said suction headhousing, said quick-opening locking means comprising a snap lock formedof a hook-shaped spring secured to said suction head and a holder noseprovided on said valve housing and clampingly engageable from the rearthereof by said hook-shaped spring.

6. Suction head according to claim 5, wherein said holder nose is formedwith a recess and including a guide pin fittingly projecting throughsaid recess in closed condition of said snap lock.

1. In a sheet feed system for sheet processing machines, a suction headfor forming an overlapped sheet feed comprising a drive shaft, firstdrive means comprising a cam disc mounted on said drive shaft, a leversystem cooperating with said cam disc and being periodically driventhereby against the biasing action of a spring, separating suckers forraising sheets from a pile thereof that is automatically adjustable to agiven level, a first holder carrying said separating suckers, said leversystem including a link having a free end to which said first holder forsaid separating suckers is secured, said link being guidable by anencapsulated anti-friction bearing in a vertical guide for raising andlowering said separating suckers simultaneously, conveyer suckers fortransporting the sheets in a direction to further conveying means of thesheet feed system, second drive means comprising an eccentric mounted onsaid drive shaft; a pair of oscillating levers, said eccentric beingpositively linked to said oscillating levers for oscillating the same,and a second holder carrying said conveyer suckers and rotatably mountedon respective free ends of oscillating levers, said first and saidsecond drive means being operable simultaneously by said drive shaftrespectively for displacing said separating suckers so as to raisesheets from the pile and for displacing said conveyer suckers so as totransport the sheets to said further convEying means.
 2. Suction headaccording to claim 1, wherein a respective guide rod for said conveyersuckers is secured to said holder for said conveyer suckers on each sideof said suction head housing, each of said guide rods having a free endon which a roller is carried, said rollers being guidable in ahorizontally extending guideway located at said suction head housing. 3.Suction head according to claim 1, including a rotary valve mounted onsaid drive shaft, said rotary valve being coordinated with saideccentric by an entrainer pin so that sheet transfer occurs exactly whensaid conveying suckers are in furthermost position opposite to saidsheet transporting direction.
 4. In a sheet feed system for sheetprocessing machines, a suction head comprising a suction head housing, adrive shaft mounted in said suction head housing and having a free endprojecting therefrom, a rotary valve for regulating flow of blowing andsuction air delivered through the suction head to a sheet, said rotaryvalve being secured to said free end of said drive shaft outside saidsuction head housing, a valve housing covering said rotary valve, andquick-opening locking means releasably connecting said valve housing tosaid suction head housing, said quick-opening locking means beingopenable for disconnecting said valve housing from said suction headhousing and removing the same from said rotary valve.
 5. In a sheet feedsystem for sheet processing machines, a suction head comprising asuction head housing, a drive shaft mounted in said suction head housingand having a free end projecting therefrom, a rotary valve forregulating flow of blowing and suction air delivered through the suctionhead to a sheet, said rotary valve being secured to said free end ofsaid drive shaft outside said suction head housing, a valve housingcovering said rotary valve, and quick-opening locking means releasablyconnecting said valve housing to said suction head housing, saidquick-opening locking means comprising a snap lock formed of ahook-shaped spring secured to said suction head and a holder noseprovided on said valve housing and clampingly engageable from the rearthereof by said hook-shaped spring.
 6. Suction head according to claim5, wherein said holder nose is formed with a recess and including aguide pin fittingly projecting through said recess in closed conditionof said snap lock.